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IMDbPro

Cowboys & Aliens

  • 20112011
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
219K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,431
114
Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Set in the Old West, a lone cowboy with no memory of his past might be the town of Absolution's best hope against an alien invasion. Helped by the mysterious Ella (Wilde), he rallies a posse for an epic showdown.
Play trailer1:41
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
219K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,431
114
  • Director
    • Jon Favreau
  • Writers
    • Roberto Orci(screenplay)
    • Alex Kurtzman(screenplay)
    • Damon Lindelof(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Craig
    • Harrison Ford
    • Olivia Wilde
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jon Favreau
  • Writers
    • Roberto Orci(screenplay)
    • Alex Kurtzman(screenplay)
    • Damon Lindelof(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Craig
    • Harrison Ford
    • Olivia Wilde
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 587User reviews
    • 440Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 17 nominations

    Videos12

    Cowboys & Aliens
    Trailer 1:41
    Cowboys & Aliens
    Cowboys & Aliens - Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:30
    Cowboys & Aliens - Trailer #2
    Cowboys & Aliens -- Super Bowl Spot
    Trailer 0:31
    Cowboys & Aliens -- Super Bowl Spot
    Cowboys and Aliens: Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:30
    Cowboys and Aliens: Trailer #1
    Cowboys & Aliens
    Featurette 2:13
    Cowboys & Aliens
    Harrison Ford: The IMDb Original Interview
    Interview 2:39
    Harrison Ford: The IMDb Original Interview
    Daniel Craig: The IMDb Original Interview
    Interview 3:23
    Daniel Craig: The IMDb Original Interview
    Jon Favreau: The IMDb Original Interview
    Interview 3:45
    Jon Favreau: The IMDb Original Interview
    "Only Hope"
    Promo 0:30
    "Only Hope"
    "Mystery"
    Promo 0:31
    "Mystery"
    "Hero"
    Promo 0:30
    "Hero"
    Olivia Wilde: The IMDb Original Interview
    Video 3:53
    Olivia Wilde: The IMDb Original Interview

    Photos390

    David Midthunder and Olivia Wilde in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Olivia Wilde in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Harrison Ford in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Harrison Ford and Jon Favreau in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and Jon Favreau in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Daniel Craig and Jon Favreau in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Daniel Craig in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Harrison Ford and Adam Beach in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
    Noah Ringer in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Daniel Craig
    Daniel Craig
    • Jake Lonerganas Jake Lonergan
    Harrison Ford
    Harrison Ford
    • Woodrow Dolarhydeas Woodrow Dolarhyde
    Olivia Wilde
    Olivia Wilde
    • Ella Swensonas Ella Swenson
    Abigail Spencer
    Abigail Spencer
    • Aliceas Alice
    Buck Taylor
    Buck Taylor
    • Wes Claiborneas Wes Claiborne
    Matthew Taylor
    Matthew Taylor
    • Luke Claiborneas Luke Claiborne
    • (as Matt Taylor)
    Cooper Taylor
    • Mose Claiborneas Mose Claiborne
    Clancy Brown
    Clancy Brown
    • Meachamas Meacham
    Paul Dano
    Paul Dano
    • Percy Dolarhydeas Percy Dolarhyde
    Chris Browning
    Chris Browning
    • Jed Parkeras Jed Parker
    Adam Beach
    Adam Beach
    • Nat Coloradoas Nat Colorado
    Sam Rockwell
    Sam Rockwell
    • Docas Doc
    Ana de la Reguera
    Ana de la Reguera
    • Mariaas Maria
    • (as Ana De La Reguera)
    Noah Ringer
    Noah Ringer
    • Emmett Taggartas Emmett Taggart
    Brian Duffy
    Brian Duffy
    • Deputyas Deputy
    Keith Carradine
    Keith Carradine
    • Sheriff John Taggartas Sheriff John Taggart
    Brendan Wayne
    Brendan Wayne
    • Charlie Lyleas Charlie Lyle
    Gavin Grazer
    Gavin Grazer
    • Edas Ed
    • Director
      • Jon Favreau
    • Writers
      • Roberto Orci(screenplay)
      • Alex Kurtzman(screenplay)
      • Damon Lindelof(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Jon Favreau was constantly harassed with demands to shoot or convert the film in 3-D, but he held his ground, claiming Westerns should only be shot on film.
    • Goofs
      When Woodrow and the rest of the men on the trail of the aliens arrive on horseback at the upturned boat, it is raining heavily. However, no rainwater appears to be dripping off the brims of the men's hats.
    • Quotes

      Jake Lonergan: I've been shot.

      Meacham: Only two kinds of men get shot: criminals and victims. Which one are you?

      Jake Lonergan: I don't know.

      Meacham: You got a name, friend?

      Jake Lonergan: I don't know that either.

      Meacham: Just what do you know?

      Jake Lonergan: English.

    • Alternate versions
      An extended version is available on home video running ~17 minutes longer.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Hour: Episode #7.104 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Apache War Dance
      Written and Performed by The Mescalero Apache Tribe

    User reviews587

    Review
    Top review
    Not a great western, not great sci fi. What's left?
    ONE LINE REVIEW: not a great western, not great sci fi. What's left?

    RATING: Wait for the instant download. (rating system: "see it in theaters", "wait for the instant download", "don't waste you're time")

    NO SPOILERS

    Cowboys and Aliens opens with our hero Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) waking up alone in the desert wearing an alien bracelet and a fractured memory. He saunters into town and meets Ella Swensen (Olivia Wilde) who seems to know him. The aliens appear and abduct half the town, including the son of cattle man Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). Now the remaining townspeople must muster courage to find the aliens and retrieve their loved ones. Our three heroes are joined by a doctor, a boy, and an Indian aid. Jake has a flashback that lets him remember that the aliens killed his wife, and now he wants revenge. With our team established and filled with sufficient resolve, they begin their trek to find the aliens, retrieve their kin, and destroy the alien invaders.

    This story reminds me of the old-time westerns where Indians would raid the white man's town and make off with their womenfolk. Then, the men folk would form a posse and go retrieve their families. Only here, Indians are replaced with aliens.

    So, this movie really offers us a story that was retired decades ago. But with sufficient star power and CGI, will it be entertaining to a modern audience? Let's find out...

    Daniel Craig is the new "Bond". You'd think he might deliver a presence as the central character that carries the film. But no. In fact, he has very few lines (delivered in an American accent) and delivers them with complete solemnity. He spends most of his time brooding and taking his hat off or putting it on.

    Harrison Ford is very believable as the hard-nosed cattle man with a past that includes fighting for the South in the Civil War. He's good... He's Harrison Ford, after all. His character goes through some important changes as a result of this journey. But that is usually what the lead is supposed to do. As good as Ford is, he cannot carry this film playing second fiddle.

    Olivia Wilde is everywhere these days. She took a year off from "House" to make movies and she has put the time to good use (Tron, On the Inside, The Change Up). She is a smart and beautiful actor and I'm looking forward to seeing her in a lead role. However, the scriptwriters and director did not put her to good use in this film. She spends most of her time in the background watching everything else happen. We never get invested in her - nor does anyone else.

    The special effects in this film are quite good. The aliens are pretty cool. They did seem to borrow from Aliens and Predator, however. The fighter ships that abduct the townspeople have a unique design. However the Mother ship resembles a vertical cigar. As for other special effects, a particular explosion was too reminiscent of the Challenger disaster for me. Too soon, I guess.

    Overall this is a pretty unimpressive movie with under-powered performances and a stale story. I can't recommend you spend $10 on it, but you might enjoy it at home if you "Wait for the instant download"
    helpful•114
    108
    • devcybiko
    • Jul 30, 2011

    FAQ7

    • Did Liev Schreiber have an uncredited role (as the the bad guy who took over Longeran's gang) in this film?
    • What is "Cowboys & Aliens" about?
    • Is "Cowboys & Aliens" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • India
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (France)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Apache languages
    • Also known as
      • Cao Bồi & Người Ngoài Hành Tinh
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • Reliance Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $163,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $100,240,551
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $36,431,290
      • Jul 31, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $174,822,325
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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